URGENT - Airfare Help!

[ArRzrbk]

We have only been to Disney once since becoming owners way back in 2005. We are finally going back . I am afraid to fly , but DH says he won't drive. The airfare prices are so high. Well, they seem high to me. They've jumped $100 since yesterday! Help!

I checked the airline websites, and I also played with Travelocity and Priceline. Is there some trick to this, or is $1800 for four people (nonstop) probably the best deal we are going to get. We are going down for the Thanksgiving holiday. Suggestions/help much appreciated.

 

[nolanboys]

That seems high to me. We fly down nonstop from Milwaukee and paid $1400 for 6 the week of spring break. Fairs do go up overnight. The best days to look are Tuesday and Wednesdays when the sale fares come out. Does Southwest fly by you? I signed up for their alerts so I would know when a sale started. We went down to Disney a few years ago the week before Thanksgiving and left the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and we got great airfare, but I didn't even book the trip until September. You still have time to get a sale price. I would wait to book. You'll find a better deal. I understand your fear of flying. I used to be petrified, but now only get nervous. I realized that for as much as I love to travel I just need to get over it. I still get panicky when there's turbulance, but I just squeeze DH's hand - he can't stand it because I sqeeze so hard it hurts him, but it helps me!

 

[ArRzrbk]

Since I don't like to fly, I don't know a lot about getting good deals. The way airline travel works is crazy to me. The price is low. The price is high. Deals come out. Price goes down again. Crazy! So... Sounds like we need to wait a bit to book? I am so afraid the prices will climb even higher.

Based on my research thus far, we can fly out of Memphis, TN (Delta) or Jackson, MS (Southwest) and get a nonstop flight. We'll be lucky to get me up and down twice. I don't need connecting flights to worry about As for dates...

I thought we could be somewhat flexible, but I am lucky to have found a room! Nearly everything was booked solid Thanksgiving week. We got AK for three nights and then have to switch to BC for two. Neither resort was what we were hoping for. Flying down on the 20th (Sun.) and back on the 25th (Fri.).

With that additional information, any other advice? I really am scared to fly and scared to wait to book, but... I trust you all a lot Thanks for helping me.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanksgiving is when you're traveling? That is usually one of the highest priced time to fly but $1800 still seems high. If I were in your shoes I'd wait and set up some fare watches that many of the consolidators have available as well as check periodically.

You might also play with the flight dates by a day or two. If you find lower cost flights then paying cash for a room might still save you money if you have the flexibility with your time. I'd rather spend the money on an extra day or two than giving it to the airlines to travel on specific dates if I had the option.

 

[dizzneebabe]

We are paying over $2100 out of Milwaukee for 5 of us the week of Thanksgiving--AND we have to drive to Tampa to fly home. I check every day, but the fares just keep going up.

 

[ppjluvsdvc]

Have you tried other sites like hipmunk (a new travelsite) that compare almost every airlines and predict when to buy. The other one is kayak.

Good luck!!

 

[CarolMN]

Moved to Transportation from DVC-Planning

 

[Nadjalu]

If you are flying during a holiday (especially thanksgiving) you will pay through the nose.

Check for the same days of the week just at a non holiday time and compare them. That will tell you how much is holiday fare.

We just booked our flights last week. I checked thursday night to see what they were and when we got together with our friend (who is going with us) on friday to book....it was $80 higher per person!
Yep they can do that to you and not think twice about it.
(not to mention our resort had sold out of standard room in the 24 hour period, so we had to upgrade our room as well!)

 

[plutolovr]

It's very important that when you're checking for airfares do it on Mon., Tues., Wed. (Tues.-Wed. usually being the best). Once Wednesday passes the fare go up through the weekend. NEVER book airfare on a weekend.

 

[ArRzrbk]

Wow. Thanks so much for all the replies. I remember why I love these boards so much! I need to clarify something...

Those of you who said to not book on the weekend, but rather wait until the other days of the week to book. Did you mean do not make the travel dates weekend dates, or did you mean literally to wait and call the airlines to book on a day other than a weekend? Sorry, but I am not sure, and I need all the savings I can get.

Thanks again for all the help. Keep those suggestions coming

 

[RMAMom]

Wow. Thanks so much for all the replies. I remember why I love these boards so much! I need to clarify something...

Those of you who said to not book on the weekend, but rather wait until the other days of the week to book. Did you mean do not make the travel dates weekend dates, or did you mean literally to wait and call the airlines to book on a day other than a weekend? Sorry, but I am not sure, and I need all the savings I can get.

Thanks again for all the help. Keep those suggestions coming

Both actually, never book your airfare on the weekend, the prices may drop substantially on Tues- Wed, book then. If you can change your actual days of the week you are flying you may also see a difference in price. If you can't well, so be it but defiantly don't book on the weekend.

 

[ArRzrbk]

Thanks for the clarification, Mary

 

[NancyIL]

I check airfares at Kayak (www.kayak.com) and then I booked directly with the airline online. If you book over the phone, you may get charged an additional phone fee of up to $25 per ticket.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Tue and Wed and some times Thurs are good days to fly for a cheaper fare.

Oh be prepared that Disney will be very very crowded during Thanksgiving weekend.

 

[ArRzrbk]

My husband booked last night. I am visiting family with our two boys, so I am not sure if he booked via phone or online. We are paying the $1800 (roughly) for the four of us, but at least it's done. One less thing for me to worry about. We've waited six long years, and I'm sure the babies thought we were never going back, but now we can say...

WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD

 

[kaytieeldr]

I check airfares at Kayak (www.kayak.com) and then I booked directly with the airline online. If you book over the phone, you may get charged an additional phone fee of up to $25 per ticket.

Kayak is a travel search engine. If the best price you find there is with the airline and you click through from your Kayak search, everybody wins. The customer gets the best price, Kayak gets paid (a little) by the airline, and the airline gets another happy customer!

 

[Missytara]

Wow. Thanks so much for all the replies. I remember why I love these boards so much! I need to clarify something...

Those of you who said to not book on the weekend, but rather wait until the other days of the week to book. Did you mean do not make the travel dates weekend dates, or did you mean literally to wait and call the airlines to book on a day other than a weekend? Sorry, but I am not sure, and I need all the savings I can get.

Thanks again for all the help. Keep those suggestions coming

Wait to BOOK on those days.

My theory is everyone waits till the weekend when everyone is home to plan their trip; and the fares go up, because the demand goes up.

I consistently book my flights very, very early in the morning on Tuesday/Wednesday and it seems to be the lowest fare all the week.